Composite food package and method of making same



C. W. DOLD June 6, 1961 COMPOSITE FOOD PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed July 11, 1958 o, mm @Z Mwm R- m, f. #vf f6.4 CBM, 4, YUV/n l Uni@ States Parent 2,987,402 COMPOSITE FOOD PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Y Chester W. Dold, Shorewood, Wis., assignor to Milprint, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed-July 11, 1958, Ser. No. 748,039 l Claims. (Cl. 994-171) This invention relates to a composite wrapper of the type having a flexible inner wrap which surrounds the commodity, and a more rigid outer carton which is then folded' over the wrapped commodity. The invention finds particular utility for packaging food products wherein onlyY a' portion of the food may be used and the balance rewrapped for storage and subsequent use.

In packages of this type, it is necessary to wrap the commodity suiciently so as to conform with certain sanitary requirements, prevent condensation within the package, and yet provide for easy removal of `a portion of the commodity andV rewrapping of the unused portion. Such a package should furthermore be made from a minimum amounrtmofmaterial and present a neat and attractive appearance as a finished package. l

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to produce a wrapper having the above desirable attributes.

More particularly, it is contemplated to produce a package of the above type which comprises an inner wrap of exible heat shrinkable material, the arrangement being such that the application of heat to exposed portions of the shrinkable material of the completed package causes the latter to conform tightly to the commodity and expel excess air from the package through an unsealed overlapping seam, thereby preventing condensation within the package and enhancing the keeping qualities of the product.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved method of packaging a product in a composite Wrapper, which method includes heat shrinking an inner wrap so as to expel air therefrom and cause the inner wrapper to closely conform to a portion of the product.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIGURE l is a view of the composite wrapper made in accordance with the present invention and showing it in the unfolded position;

FIGURES 2 through 6 show the various steps in packaging a commodity in the wrapper of FIGURE l; and

FIGURES 7 through l0 show the opening of the package, removal of a portion of the commodity therefrom, rewrapping of the unused portion and the rewrapped package.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the outer wrap 12 is comprised of cardboard or paperboard material which has been scored along lines 13, 14, 15 and 16 to form a back panel 17, side panels 18 and 19, front panel 20, and the flap 21. One of the panels, such as 20, may have a portion cut away to form a window W for displaying the commodity.

When folded along its score lines about the commodity as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the rectangular blank 12 defines a tubular or generally rectangular carton having open ends.

Locking means are provided for the package in the form of a slit 22 cut in the back panel 17 and a complementary locking tab 23 extending from the ap 21. This locking means acts to hold the completed package in the assembled position shown in FIGURES 6 and 10.

While a specific form of locking means has thus been shown and described, it should be understood that it is not intended or desired to thereby limit the invention since any suitable means of securing the outer wrap in folded condition to maintainv the package assembled may be utilized;

AnI inner wrap 25 is provided for the commodity C, which WrapY may bev comprised of various tiexible sheet materials, preferably of transparent nature, such as for example, polyvinylidene chloride commonly referred to as f Saran, which is of the heat shrinkable type, and is attached to the outer carton 12 at various locations by the adhesive material 26 (FIG. 1) therebetween, By attachingV the inner wrap to the outer wrap, 'a conveniently handled Wrapper is provided.

It will be noted that the inner wrap 25 has a portion 27 and 28 extending beyond the length of the carton or the ends ofthe panels, but the wrap 25 is somewhat shorter than the width oftthe carton.

As shown in FIGURES 2 through 6, to assemble the package, the commodity is placed on the panel 20 and the overhanging aps 27 and 28 are folded over the commodity in overlapping relationship. As shown in FIGURE 3, an open seam 29 is thus formed by the overlapped flaps.A ItV should be mentioned that this folding process can be donerapidly on the production line and the limp material 25 does not need to be pulled tightly over the commodity. The commodity extends generally coextensive with thelength. of the panels. As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the limp material 25 is then pressed togethei-ar'ound 'the commodity at the top and bottom thereof. Thevcarton panels are then folded along their score linessand thelocking means interengaged as shown in FIGURES. d

`At v`this "timev heatis applied from any suitable source S to 'each end of the package which shrinks the limp wrap material 25'thati's located at the open ends of the carton. This acts to' tighten the inner wrap around the ends of the commodity and causes air to be expelled through the unsealed seam 29. As a result of the removal of the great majority of the air from the inner wrap7 the formation of condensation therein is eliminated. In addition, a particularly neat-appearing display package is provided.

To remove the product, it is unnecessary to break any seals and thereby prevent complete reclosure of the package. It is only necessary to unlock the tab 23 and unfold the carton to the FIGURE 7 position. The inner wrap flaps may then also be unfolded to the completely open position shown in FIGURE 8 and any portion of the product then easily removed therefrom. To reclose the package, the flaps 27 and 28 are again folded over the product and the carton refolded to the position of FIGURE 10.

The composite wrapper provided by this invention prevents the greasy product from contacting the outer and somewhat absorbent carton, and permits the rapid assembly of the package. The inner greaseproof wrapper is attached to the outer and stiffer protective carton so as to facilitate wrapping of the product and folding of the carton.

By forming the inner wrap of heat shrinkable material and making the outer carton with open ends which expose portions of this inner wrap, the latter may be heat shrunk after the product has been wrapped so as to cause the inner wrap to conform closely to the contour of the product and excess air to be expelled through an unsealed overlap seam in the inner wrap. The outer carton then serves to protect this inner wrap and its taut portions.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

Iclaim:

1. The method of making a package which includes; placing a food product on a heat shrinkable flexible inner wrapper secured to a paperboard blank and folding the wrapper over said product to form an unsealed seam,

folding the paperboard blank around said inner wrapper so as to leave portions of the latter exposed, and applying heat to said exposed portions to shrink the latter and thereby expel air therefrom.

2. The method of making a package which includes; placing a food product on a heat shrnkable flexible inner wrapper secured to a paperboard blank and folding the wrapper over said product to form an unsealed seam,

vfolding the paperboard blank around said inner Wrapper vso as to form a tubular carton which leaves portions of the inner wrapper exposed, seeming said carton in folded position, and applying heat to said exposed portions to shrink the latter and thereby expel air therefrom.

3. A composite food product package comprising, a paperboard outer carton having score lines which define lback, front and side panels, means for securing said 'panels in folded relationship to define a generally rectangular carton having open ends, an inner wrap of i flexible and heat shrinkable material of greater length than said carton secured to said carton panels, and a food product positioned on said inner wrap with said inner wrap folded thereover in overlapped condition so as to form a protective cover having an unsealed overlap seam, said inner wrap being exposed at said carton open ends when said wrapper is assembled and being heat i shrunk at said exposed ends into close conformity with said food product.

4. A composite food product package comprising, a

" paperboard outer carton having score lines which define back, front and side panels, means for securing said panels in folded relationship to define a generally recsaid inner wrap folded thereover in marginally overlapped condition so as to form a protective cover having an unsealed overlap seam, said inner wrap being exposed at said carton open ends when said wrapper is assembled and being heat shrunk at said exposed ends into close conformity with said food product.

5. A composite food product package comprising, a paperboard outer carton having score lines which define back, front and side panels of a length generally coextensive with the food product, said carton having means for securing said panels in folded relationship to dene a generally rectangular carton having open ends, an inner wrap of flexible and heat shrinkable material of greater length than said carton secured to certain of said carton panels along spaced parallel lines extending to ward said open carton ends, and a food product positioned on said inner wrap with said inner Wrap folded thereover in marginally everlapped condition so as to form a protective cover having an unsealed overlap seam, said inner wrap being exposedy at said carton open ends when said Wrapper is assembled and being heat shrunk at said exposed ends into close conformity with said food product.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,933,516 Rosen Oct. 31, 1933 2,333,943 Levkof Nov. 9, 1943 2,376,583 De Poix May 22, 1945 2,465,841 Bonini Mar. 29, 1949 2,668,403 Rumsey Feb. 9, 1954 2,865,767 Gore Dec. 23, 1958 2,911,306 Griem Nov. 3, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Packaging, September 1950, pages 93, 94, 95, and 199. 

1. THE METHOD OF MAKING A PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES, PLACING A FOOD PRODUCT ON A HEAT SHRINKABLE FLEXIBLE INNER WRAPPER SECURED TO A PAPERBOARD BLANK AND FOLDING THE WRAPPER OVER SAID PRODUCT TO FORM AN UNSEALED SEAM, FOLDING THE PAPERBOARD BLANK AROUND SAID INNER WRAPPER SO AS TO LEAVE PORTIONS OF THE LATTER EXPOSED, AND APPLYING HEAT TO SAID EXPOSED PORTIONS TO SHRINK THE LATTER AND THEREBY EXPEL AIR THEREFROM. 